18 Days Turkiye Tour with Blue Cruise
18 Days Turkiye Tour with Blue Cruise - Istanbul - Gallipoli - Troy - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Fethiye- Blue Cruise - Antalya - Konya - Cappadocia - Istanbul
Day 1- Istanbul
On your arrival at Istanbul Airport you will be met by one of our staff and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. The rest of the day is free time for you to explore this magical city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2- Istanbul-Half Day Bosphorus Tour ( B )
After having your breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up for a half day morning bosphorus tour to have an unforgettable day. You will have a chance to see;
Spice Market, Golden Horn, City Walls, Bosphorus by Boat,
End of the tour transfer to your hotel and it will be your free afternoon to discover the charming beauty of old city on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3- Gallipoli Tour ( L )
We pick you up from your hotel in the morning (06:30 -07:00 am), to depart for Gallipoli.
Today the Gallipoli battlefields are peaceful places, covered in brush and pine forests. But the battles fought here nearly a century ago are still alive in many memories, both Turkish and foreign, especially Australians and New Zealanders, who view the peninsula as a place of pilgrimage.
Full days tour of Dardanelles, Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove Cemeteries, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnstons Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), Turkish 57 th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. End of the tour transfer to your hotel and overnight in Canakkale or Eceabat.
Day 4-Troy Tour ( B )
After breakfast at the hotel and depart for our daily guided Troy Tour. We will visit the archaeological site of this 5000 years old ancient city. Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War, as it is described in the Iliad of Homer. We see the Megaron houses, a small Roman theatre and Bouletarion, city walls, small site museum and reconstructed wooden horse. After visiting Troy then you will take a bus to Kusadası which will take about six hours by comfortable, non-smoking, airconditioned busses. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, overnight in Kusadası.
Day 5- Ephesus Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast at your hotel, our daily guided Ephesus Tour begins by visiting Isa Bey Mosque, the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, it proceeds to the spectacular main site of Ephesus, undoubtedly the most superbly preserved Greco-Roman city. Unmistakable highlights surviving among the ruins are the Celsius Library, Agora, Theater, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple and Roman Latrines. Following a lunch break, visit the House of Virgin Mary; reputed to be where she spent her final days.
After the tour, you will be transfered to your hotel and overnight in Kusadası or Selcuk.
Day 6- Pamukkale Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast at your hotel in Kusadası or Selcuk then you will be picked up from the hotel then driven to Pamukkale which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton piles that it is called "Cotton Castle" in Turkish. Visit the travertines and the Ancient City of Hierapolis which has the biggest Nekropol with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The sacred pool also is one of the main highlights of the site. There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient Roman ruins which lie beneath. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 7- Fethiye ( B )
After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Pamukkale, you will take a bus to Fethiye, arrive in Fethiye and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Fethiye, discover more things in the little town on your own. Overnight in Fethiye.
Day 8- Fethiye, Oludeniz ( B / L / D)
Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to boat in Fethiye Harbour.
Departure from Fethiye Harbour between 11 and 12 a.m. Brief info about the route and the boat. Leave from Fethiye Harbour to Samanlik Bay for swimming and lunch depending on the sea conditions.
Butterfly Valley is swimming and hiking stop. It hosts 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths.
Afterwards we cruise to Oludeniz (The Blue Lagoon) again sea conditions permitting. Optional paragliding available.
Last stop of the day is St.Nicholas Island. Byzantine ruins, swim, dinner. Overnight on the boat under the stars.
Day 9- Kalkan, Kas ( B / L / D)
Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast and swimming.
Cruising to Kas where we stop in the harbour for lunch and visit this charming fishing town, ancient Antiphellos, as Kas was once known, only Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi and the Roman theatre are left.
You may walk in Uzun Carsı street to see Lycian King Tomb and look at the wooden balconies with flowers of Kas. These are the charm of the town remains! We stop in a bay near Kekova for swimming and dinner under thousands of stars. Overnight on boat.
Day 10- Simena, Kekova, Gokkaya Bay ( B/ L/ D)
Breakfast on the boat.
Cruise to Sunken City of Kekova ( Lycian-Roman archaeological site is protected, so only looking!).
Lunch. Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access and Byzantine/Ottoman castle.
In Gokkaya Bay optional water sports are available.
Dinner, relax in this pirates haven or party the night away at the Smugglers Inn.
Day 11- Pirates Cave, Demre, Olympos ( B / L)
After breakfast we have a look at the Pirates Cave and snorkeling (sea conditions permitting) before cruising to Andriace harbour for lunch.
At the end of the boat tour in Demre, you will take a bus to Antalya that will take about three hours and you will be able to see the dantella bays of south coasts.
We will meet you at the bus station in Antalya, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Antalya.
Day 12- Antalya - Perge Aspendos Side Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel and a full day guided tour will start.
Perge, a great ancient city with city walls, theatre, agora, Hellenistic Stadium.
Kursunlu Waterfalls, a fascinating waterfall and natural surroundings.
Aspendos, an ancient Lycian city with the best preserved Roman Theatre.
Side, an ancient harbour which means pomegranate in the old Anatolian Sidetan language. It is famous for its pretty resort towns, ancient ruins, beautiful sandy beaches, numerous shops and extensive tourist accommodations welcomes the visitors.
End of the tour you will be transfered to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 13- Antalya to Konya ( B )
After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Antalya, we will transfer you to the bus staion then take a bus to Konya which will take about six hours by passing through the world famous Taurus Mountains, upon arrival Konya, you will be met at the bus station then transfer to your hotel, it will be your free time on your own. Walk in the old city through Mevlana Museum, historical market area, see the beautiful boutique shops selling clothes, spices, souvenirs near Aziziye Mosque.
Konya is located right in the middle of Turkey. The history goes back till 7000BC. in Catalhoyuk. It is the first known ancient city so far in the world. Konya is a cradle of many civilizations beginning from the early ages up to now. Visit the home of great philosopher Mevlana Celaleddini Rumi, great humanist, great poet his only aim was to teach people to love the creature for the honour of the creater. You should try to understand his messages to all humankind.
You should taste our world famous 'Etli Ekmek' ( Turkish pizza ) and 'Fırın Kebabı'. Konya cuisine has great contributions to Turkish cuisine, try our famous meals.
Overnight in Konya.
Day 14- Konya to Cappadocia ( B )
Breakfast at your hotel in Konya, you can visit Alaeddin Mosque, Karatay Museum, Ince Minare Museum on your own then you will take a bus to Cappadocia in the afternoon which will take almost four hours. Arrive in Cappadocia and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 15- Cappadocia - North Tour (B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel and we will pick you up from your hotel to start a full day guided tour of Northern Cappadocia. We then visit the monastic complex of Goreme Open Air Museum with its astonishing rock-hewn architecture and vibrant frescoes; Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the rocky region; the lunar landscape of Devrent Valley; the lovely town of Avanos and famous for its pottery and painted tiles in Turkey; Pasabag Valley, which has some of the most stunning fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, Cavusin, an old Christian village and Urgup's fairy chimneys. End of the tour transfer to hotel and overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 16- Cappadocia -South Tour ( B / L )
After Breakfast at your hotel departure for your full day guided tour of Southern Cappadocia begins at Pigeon Valley, where you see thousands of pigeon houses lining the steep cliffs. A visit to one of the extraordinary underground cities Derinkuyu. At Selime Village you will be astonished by the beautiful churches carved out of the volcanic rocks. Visit Ihlara Valley, the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia. At the end of your tour we transfer you to airport for a flight to Istanbul, after arrive in Istanbul transfer to hotel.
Day 17: Istanbul - City Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast we pick you up from your hotel and start a full day guided tour of old part of Istanbul , visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Little Hagia Sophia Mosque and Grand Bazaar. End of the tour transfer to your hotel overnight in Istanbul.
Day 18- Istanbul ( B )
After breakfast at your hotel, our tour concludes and it is time for us to say goodbye. We will take you to the airport in time for you to catch your international flight back home and we will wish you a very pleasant flight. We hope to see you again on another Pomegranate Tour.